ASOS, a British online fashion retailer targeted toward “20-somethings,” is investing $100 million to beef up its fulfillment operation in Union City, Ga., where it already has hired 1,000 people after setting up shop three years ago.  

Much of the funding will go toward increased automation — the warehouse was originally slated to handle 10 million pieces of clothing — but new jobs in engineering and software development will also be created through the expansion. The company pledged that the initial investment of $40 million was to create 1,600 jobs over five years.  

ASOS’s website is available in 10 languages and accessible in more than 200 countries. The global company curates an online selection of more than 85,000 products and sources from more than 850 brands, mixing in-house and fashion labels on what it calls an “online fashion destination.”  

The publicly traded company surpassed £3.1 billion in sales in 2020, a 19 percent increase, while doubling down on its commitment to ethical sourcing in a sector that has seen problems with labor exploitation and factory safety around the world.  

ASOS is one among a growing number of e-commerce companies investing in areas rimming Atlanta with easy access to the airport. Mattress company Purple Innovation Inc. said this week it would put 500 more production and fulfillment jobs in Henry County, on the heels of packaging firm Pregis’s announcement of a $14 million investment there.  

As managing editor of Global Atlanta, Trevor has spent 15+ years reporting on Atlanta’s ties with the world. An avid traveler, he has undertaken trips to 30+ countries to uncover stories on the perils...

Leave a comment